The nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or are out and notable names are on the list to claim the crown.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Mbappe Lead the 2023 Ballon d’Or Nominations List
Lionel Messi is looking ahead for his 8th crown and will likely be the winner following his successful run in the competitions. Messi is the 2022 World Cup winner and has been successful in the team he has played for in various leagues.
However, the World Cup winner will not have an easy journey as there is tough competition from the treble-winning striker Erling Haaland for Manchester City. Although Haaland has not won the World Cup, his form has been impressive across the teams he has played for in the past.
He helped Borussia Dortmund win trophies in the Bundesliga and has been very instrumental in Manchester City’s journey towards winning the treble. The striker will be competing with Lionel Messi for the coveted reward and will look ahead to win it for the first time.
The ceremony will occur in October 2023. Kylian Mbappe is also a favorite to win the trophy. He has been crucial for the PSG team and led France to the World Cup final where he scored a hat trick. However, France didn’t manage to defend the title allowing Lionel Messi to lift the Cup for the first time.
Other Nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or
The nomination list will have women and men players taking part in the competition. The male players have several members from top clubs. The former Real Madrid man Karim Benzema made it to the shortlist of the nominees. He was exceptional in the 2022 list and won the prize. He will be looking ahead to defend it for another time.
The shortlist also has Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka who have been crucial for their teams helping them finish their respective leagues in the best positions.
On the women’s nomination list, we have Aitana Bonmati from Spain who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Feminin category. She helped Spain clinch the 2023 women’s World Cup trophy and won the golden ball.
The Spanish player is the favorite and will be battling it out with other top players like Georgia Stanway, Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, and Mary Earps. The England players have been key for the squad and earned their position on the list.
Both the men’s and women’s list have over 25 nominees with each having impacted their teams to glory.
Notable Names Missing on The List
The notable name not on the list for the 2023 nominees is Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo has been key in the past and won several trophies and the crown. He was exceptional for Real Madrid in the past. However, in the latest competitions, Ronaldo has not been impressive.
After returning to Manchester United, he fell out with the coach and had to sign for the Saudi Arabian side Al Nassir. He has been a key player in the team and helped them win The Arab Club Champions Cup title for the first time. Despite the contributions, Ronaldo didn’t make it to the list and will be looking ahead to 2024 nominees.
